<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
John Johmann Atalanta Rafferty
LivePerson, Inc. Ruder Finn
917-210-9151 212-693-6465
[email protected] [email protected]
LIVEPERSON ACQUIRES HUMANCLICK,
CREATING A GLOBAL MARKET LEADER IN REAL-TIME ECRM SOLUTIONS
FOR SMALL AND MID-SIZED BUSINESSES
ACQUISITION ADDS OVER 100,000 CUSTOMERS TO LIVEPERSON'S EXISTING GLOBAL PRESENCE
NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 13, 2000 - LivePerson, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPSN), a leading
application service provider (ASP) of technology that enables real-time sales
and customer service interaction over the Internet, has acquired Israel-based
HumanClick, Ltd., which provides real-time, online customer service applications
to more than 100,000 small and mid-sized businesses around the world. The
acquisition solidifies LivePerson's position as a global leader in delivering
real-time eCRM solutions via an ASP model to businesses operating online.
"Our acquisition of HumanClick provides us with significant growth
opportunities, and enables us to open new sales channels," said Robert LoCascio,
President and CEO of LivePerson. "We will leverage HumanClick's self-service
capability to expand the reach of our technology via third-party distribution
channels and partnerships. Much like AOL/ICQ's leadership position in instant
messaging among individuals, the addition of HumanClick will assist LivePerson
in becoming the standard real-time communication solution for businesses."
Under the terms of the agreement, LivePerson will issue up to 4.5 million shares
in exchange for all outstanding shares of HumanClick, and will assume all
outstanding options and warrants. The acquisition will be accounted for as a
purchase. HumanClick will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of LivePerson.
With over 100,000 customers, HumanClick has substantial market share in the
small and mid-sized business market with its real-time solution. Through this
acquisition, LivePerson solidifies its leadership position in this market, and
joins leading international technology companies with a development presence in
Israel's high-growth technology hub.
In addition, LivePerson will gain opportunities to upgrade HumanClick's larger
clients to LivePerson's comprehensive suite of eCRM solutions. Leveraging their
ASP platforms, the combined companies will continue to provide cost-effective
eCRM solutions that are easy to implement, and require no hardware installation,
internal IT resources or ongoing maintenance.
<PAGE>
"We are pleased to join forces with LivePerson," said Eitan Ron, co-founder and
CEO of HumanClick. "LivePerson is a leading ASP delivering real-time eCRM
solutions and we are excited to be a part of it. Through our free distribution
strategy, HumanClick's vision has been to empower entrepreneurs and small
businesses with real-time customer service. With LivePerson's presence in the
mid- to large-sized market, we can deliver reliable and scalable solutions via
an ASP model to the full spectrum of companies conducting business online."
Eitan Ron and Tal Golberg, co-founders of HumanClick, will remain as the
principal senior executives, overseeing HumanClick operations at their present
location in Israel.
With LivePerson's over 800 clients in 30 countries and HumanClick's over 100,000
registered users in 60 countries, the combined entity will offer a global
solution that is served via the Internet. The combined entity will provide
real-time customer service technology in 15 languages, including both simplified
and traditional Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German,
Hebrew, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.
ABOUT HUMANCLICK
HumanClick, Ltd. provides a leading customer service application delivered via
the Internet, facilitating live, 24/7, interactive sales and customer support.
The HumanClick service targets the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Market,
permitting Web site visitors to get immediate, real-time help on demand, and
enabling Web site owners to track and communicate with visitors to their sites.
ABOUT LIVEPERSON
LivePerson (www.liveperson.com) is a leading application service provider (ASP)
of technology that facilitates real-time sales and customer service for
companies doing business on the Internet. The LivePerson service enables online
businesses to communicate with Internet users in real-time, thereby enhancing
the online experience. The service offers clients the opportunity to increase
sales, lower customer service costs and increase responsiveness to customer
needs. LivePerson currently has over 800 signed clients.
###
STATEMENTS IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REGARDING LIVEPERSON, INC. THAT ARE NOT
HISTORICAL FACTS ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE SUCH STATEMENTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM ACTUAL
FUTURE EVENTS OR RESULTS. ANY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE MADE PURSUANT
TO THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995. THE FOLLOWING FACTORS, AMONG OTHERS, COULD CAUSE LIVEPERSON'S ACTUAL
RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN A FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENT: LIMITED HISTORY OF PROVIDING THE LIVEPERSON SERVICE; LIMITED
HISTORICAL ANNUAL REVENUE AND HISTORY OF LOSSES; UNPROVEN BUSINESS MODEL;
DEPENDENCE ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LIVEPERSON SERVICE; POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN
QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL RESULTS; DEPENDENCE ON KEY EMPLOYEES; COMPETITION BOTH FOR
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AND IN THE MARKET FOR REAL TIME SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
TECHNOLOGY; RISKS RELATED TO MANAGING EXPANDING OPERATIONS; BUILDING AWARENESS
OF THE LIVEPERSON BRAND NAME; TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS BEYOND LIVEPERSON'S CONTROL AND
TECHNOLOGY-RELATED DEFECTS THAT COULD DISRUPT THE LIVEPERSON SERVICE; DEPENDENCE
ON THE GROWTH OF THE INTERNET AS A MEDIUM FOR COMMERCE AND THE VIABILITY OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE INTERNET; RESPONDING TO RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE;
INTEGRATION OF POTENTIAL FUTURE ACQUISITIONS; AND POSSIBLE UNAVAILABILITY OF
FINANCING AS AND IF NEEDED. THIS LIST IS INTENDED TO IDENTIFY ONLY
<PAGE>
CERTAIN OF THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER.
READERS ARE REFERRED TO THE REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS FILED FROM TIME TO TIME BY
LIVEPERSON WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, FILED ON AUGUST 10, 2000, FOR A DISCUSSION OF
THESE AND OTHER IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS.
